Role of atmospheric particulate matter exposure in COVID-19 and other health risks in human: A review

Background COVID-19 is a lung disease, and there is medical evidence that air pollution is one of the external causes of lung diseases. Fine particulate matter is one of the air pollutants that damages pulmonary tissue. The combination of the coronavirus and fine particulate matter air pollution may exacerbate the coronavirus’ effect on human health. Research question This paper considers whether the long-term concentration of fine particulate matter of different sizes changes the number of detected coronavirus infections and the number of COVID-19 fatalities in Germany. Study design Data from 400 German counties for fine particulate air pollution from 2002 to 2020 are used to measure the long-term impact of air pollution. Kriging interpolation is applied to complement data gaps. With an ecological study, the correlation between average particulate matter air pollution and COVID-19 cases, as well as fatalities, are estimated with OLS regressions. Thereby, socioeconomic and demographic covariates are included. Main findings An increase in the average long-term air pollution of 1 μg/m 3 particulate matter PM 2.5 is correlated with 199.46 (SD = 29.66) more COVID-19 cases per 100,000 inhabitants in Germany. For PM 10 the respective increase is 52.38 (SD = 12.99) more cases per 100,000 inhabitants. The number of COVID-19 deaths were also positively correlated with PM 2.5 and PM 10 (6.18, SD = 1.44, respectively 2.11, SD = 0.71, additional COVID-19 deaths per 100,000 inhabitants). Conclusion Long-term fine particulate air pollution is suspected as causing higher numbers of COVID-19 cases. Higher long-term air pollution may even increase COVID-19 death rates. We find that the results of the correlation analysis without controls are retained in a regression analysis with controls for relevant confounding factors. Nevertheless, additional epidemiological investigations are required to test the causality of particulate matter air pollution for COVID-19 cases and the severity.

Section: Introductionsupporting

confidence: 84%

Long-term exposure to fine particulate matter air pollution: An ecological study of its effect on COVID-19 cases and fatality in Germany

Prinz

Richter

2022

“…Thus, a 10 μg/m 3 increase in the concentrations of PM 2.5 , O 3 , SO 2 and NO 2 was positively associated with relative risks of 1.050, 1.011, 1.052 and 1.094 of daily new confirmed cases, respectively. Recently, Zhu et al (2021) reported the results of a study also focused on assessing the interactive effects between meteorological factors and various air pollutants (PM 2.5 , SO 2 , CO and O 3 ) on the transmission of COVID-19 in 120 Chinese cities, covering the majority of mainland China. In the same line that most of the above studies conducted in China, positive associations were observed between the number of confirmed cases of COVID-19 and the air concentrations of CO, PM 2.5 and O 3 .…”

Section: Recent Studies By Continents and Countriesmentioning

confidence: 99%

“… **Oxidative stress and inflammatory responses are considered as the major mechanism involved in the PM induced adverse effects. Zhu et al (2021) To review the cumulative effects of ambient PM 2.5 -exposure and SARS-CoV-2 transmission on exacerbating cardiopulmonary outcomes **Exposure to air pollution increases susceptibility to COVID-19 infection, creating a pre-inflammatory state in patients. **Air pollutants affect respiratory and cardiovascular health, COVID-19 prognosis and mortality are impacted by the presence of respiratory and cardiovascular comorbidities.…”

Section: Recent Reviews On the Topicmentioning

confidence: 99%

Positive association between outdoor air pollution and the incidence and severity of COVID-19. A review of the recent scientific evidences

Marquès

Domingo

2022

110

In June 2020, we published a review focused on assessing the influence of various air pollutants on the transmission of SARS-CoV-2, and the severity of COVID-19 in patients infected by the coronavirus. The results of most of those reviewed studies suggested that chronic exposure to certain air pollutants might lead to more severe and lethal forms of COVID-19, as well as delays/complications in the recovery of the patients. Since then, a notable number of studies on this topic have been published, including also various reviews. Given the importance of this issue, we have updated the information published since our previous review. Taking together the previous results and those of most investigations now reviewed, we have concluded that there is a significant association between chronic exposure to various outdoor air pollutants: PM 2.5 , PM 10 , O 3 , NO 2 , SO 2 and CO, and the incidence/risk of COVID-19 cases, as well as the severity/mortality of the disease. Unfortunately, studies on the potential influence of other important air pollutants such as VOCs, dioxins and furans, or metals, are not available in the scientific literature. In relation to the influence of outdoor air pollutants on the transmission of SARS-CoV-2, although the scientific evidence is much more limited, some studies point to PM 2.5 and PM 10 as potential airborne transmitters of the virus. Anyhow, it is clear that environmental air pollution plays an important negative role in COVID-19, increasing its incidence and mortality.

“…Then, Zhu et al (2021) , citing Amoatey et al (2020) : “In this context, Amoatey et al (2020) have revealed that indoor burning could enable the possible transmission of SARS-CoV-2 virus droplets through PM.” Senatore et al (2021) , citing Setti et al (2020a) : “Setti et al (2020) found a high correlation (R2 = 0.98) between the number of new coronavirus infections in the north of Italy and the concentration of particulate matter ≤10 μm in diameter (PM10) in the air. This relationship would seem to indicate that fine dust particles can act as a carrier for the SARS-Cov-2 virus, boosting its spread and viability.” …”

Section: Citation Networkmentioning

confidence: 99%

“SARS-CoV-2 is transmitted by particulate air pollution”: Misinterpretations of statistical data, skewed citation practices, and misuse of specific terminology spreading the misconception

Ishmatov

2022

In epidemiology, there are still outdated myths associated with the spread of respiratory infections. Recently, we have witnessed the origination of a new misconception, to the effect that SARS-CoV-2 is transmitted in the open air by way of particulate air pollution (atmospheric particulate matter (PM)). There is no evidence to support the idea behind this misconception. Nevertheless, more and more people are involved in animated debate and the number of studies concerning atmospheric PM as a carrier of SARS-CoV-2 is growing rapidly. In this work, the origin of the misconception was investigated, and the published papers which have contributed to the spread of this myth were analyzed. The results show that the following factors lie behind the origin and spread of the misconception: a) The specific terminology is not always clearly defined or consistently used by scientists. In particular, the terms ‘particulate matter’, ‘atmospheric aerosol particles’, ‘air pollutants’, and ‘atmospheric aerosols’ need to be clarified, and besides they are often equated to ‘infectious aerosols’, ‘virus-bearing aerosols’, ‘bio-aerosols’, ‘virus-laden particles’, ‘respiratory aerosol/droplets’, and ‘droplet nuclei’. b) Authors misinterpret statistical data and information from other sources. Interpretation of the correlation between PM levels and the increasing incidence and severity of COVID-19 infection, is often changed from “PM may reflect the indirect action of certain atmospheric conditions that maintain infectious nuclei suspended for prolonged periods, parameters that also act on atmospheric pollutants” to “PM could cause an increase in infectious droplets/aerosols containing SARS-CoV-2.” This is a dramatic change to the meaning. Moreover, it is often not taken into account that PM may reflect activities in areas with high population density and this population density at the same time contributes to the spread COVID-19. c) Skewed citation practices. Many authors cite a hypothetical conclusion from an original study, then other authors cite the papers of these authors as primary sources. This practice leads to the effect that there are many witnesses to a ‘phenomenon’ that did not ever occur. Thus, the terminology used in interdisciplinary communications should be more nuanced and defined precisely. Authors should be more careful when citing unconfirmed data (and hypotheses) as well as in interpreting statistical data so as to avoid confusion and spreading false information. This is especially important now in the era of the COVID-19 pandemic.